Substratum (DIGITAL)

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Composer: Andrew Martin Smith

Duration: 1:15

Scoring: piano

Materials: performance score (8.5 x 11)
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Program Note

This “great, marchy waltz” was composed for Nicholas Phillips and the #45Miniatures project in December of 2018. Substratum is a mingling of musical materials taken from the national anthems of both the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America. The work is polytonal, with the pianist’s right hand written in B minor (ish) and their left hand written in B-flat major (ish). The common tone of D(onald) ties these seemingly disparate tunes together in an unsettlingly seamless way.

​With the future of all things being unknown to those in the present, the performer can choose to end the composition in one of two ways: they may choose to wait until America is great again before playing the final chord, or, if they deem the United States to be a continuously evolving social experiment—an imperfect system of checks and balances that is simultaneously strong and deeply flawed— they may choose to perform the final chord, or not, regardless of America’s greatness. Ultimately, this choice lies with the particular pianist and their individual perspective. After all, the United States of America is a free country...for the moment.

— Andrew Martin Smith

Reproduction Notice:This program note may be freely reproduced in concert programs, provided that proper credit is given to the composer.